Automatic feed control for liquids



NOV. 28, s E. WH|TE AUTOMATIC FEED CONTROL FOR LIQUlDS Filed Feb. 9. 1931 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 28, 1933 AU'roMA'rie FEED "coN'rRoLroa 'LIQUIEDS YSanford E. WhitaSantaMonica, Calif. YApplication February 9,1931. Serial No. y514,482,

rclaimsicl.1311+103) My invention relates to automatic feed con- A trol'for liquids, and is particularly adapted for the automatic control of an oil supply from a Y yreserve tank cr reservoir to the crank case of an iautomobile or other mechanism where itis necessary to maintain a certain oil level if the best resultsare to be secured. v

vThe invention herein presented is a vfurtherV improvement over my invention as shown and' lfdescribed in my pending applicationSerial No. 510,574, and among the salient objects of this present invention are to simplify and make more economical and practical in construction and v arrangement my invention as shown in the applilfcation above referred to; to provide anautomatic feedv control of the character referred to without a float; and to provide an improved means'for retarding the opening of the valve `permitting the inflow of lfresh voil into a crank ZO--case or other chamber until the oil on the walls of the crank case or chamber has settled down into the case to Vestablish the true Yoil level.

In order to further explain my invention, I have illustrated an improved form or embodiment thereon of the accompanying sheet of drawing, which I will now describe.v f

Figure 1 is averticalsectional view through a mechanism embodying lmy improved automaticY feed control, showing the vreserve tank inelevation; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view the reservoir with parts moved.y

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 designates a reservoir which can be connected .35 with 'the main crank case or other chamber (not shown) in such a way as to maintain the same general liquid level, said connection being through a pipe 6, or other structure in which both chambers will have the same liquid level, indicated by the line L. A reserve tank or reservoir for oil or liquid supply is designated '7, and is connected by means of a pipe 8 with the reservoirl 5, said pipe passing through a stufng box 9, and having its lower end terminating at the normal level of liquid.

The reserve tank is also provided with a visible' gauge 10, and the pipe 8 is provided with a valve 11, for shutting ofi` the ilow of oil whendesired for any reason. Pivotally mounted in the reservoir 5, is a lever 12, carrying intermediate its ing in a cylindrical extension 17 in the top ofthe reservoir 5, said cylindrical extension being conf` nected by means-ofV a pipe 18 with the mainold of a motor, or other means for creating a suc tion through said` pipe 18, and Within said cyv having a flaringlower end, which may beprot5 vided to more ee'ctively closethe cylindrical extension 17, when said'V member lis raised. Said j cylindrical member 16 is shownprovided witha p rod or stem 16',which extends through a stuingA boX 19, up into a dash pot 20, and 'is providedf70 within said dashpot 20 with a piston-like mem'- ber 21, which fits lclosely within said dash pot and functions vto retard the downward movement ofthe cylindrical member-16, whenthe suction through the pipe 18is stopped. Thedash pot 2G 75 is provided with a small orifice 22, to permit the slow inflow of air. The'dash pot, if Ymade as a Y separate member and rconnected throughv themedium of the stung box 19, may be connected 21'. l The connecting link 15, from the lever 12, is

provided'with a slot 15', at its'lower end, and the 85 connection with the end of the lever 12 is by means of a pin 12' through said slot, for the purpose of providing a lost motion. A spring 24 is attached to the lower end of said link 15, and to the oor of the reservoir, as at 25. mally draws downwardly on said link and cyf lindrical member to return it when thesuction is cut 01T, and as the dash pot permits it to move downwardly slowly. A second coiled spring 26 is attachedto the side of the reservoir, as at 2'?, and 95 is extended to the middle of the lever 12, and attached thereto, as at 28, to operate as a quick moving means for said lever as it crosses center in either direction. `It will be seen-that the link y 15 can move the distance .represented by the .-100 length of the slot 15 without moving the valve 13.

In order to prevent the reserve liquid in the tank '7 from running downinto the reservoir 5 when the valve 13 is moved from the vend of the pipe 8, said tank 7 is made air tight and the feed 1055' therefrom can only be made as air finds its way up through the pipe 8, and as'soon as the oil vor liquid in the reservoir 5 has reached the end of said pipe 8, it closes it and the further now 4of liquid is stopped.

This nor- Y efficient means for automatically and slowly feeding oil'from a reserve to the chamber in which it is being used for the purpose of maintaining a normal level in said chamber, and while I have illustrated a preferred form or embodiment of said invention, I do not limit it to the being used. Y

details of constructionV and arrangement shown and described, except as I 'maybe limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatickfeed control for liquids including a reservoir for reserve liquid, a pipe there--v from to a chamber to which said liquidY is to be supplied, said pipe extending into saidv chamber, a valve member adapted to close the end of said pipe, means for moving said valvemeinber to closed position, said meansbeing operated byy the operation of the mechanism using the liquid and said valve opening when said mechanism isvv inoperative, said reserve reservoir andsaid pipeA being air 4tight,lwherebyll liquid canY only run therefrom whenmsaid pipe is open land as air is .permitted to iind its way up said pipe. v

2. An automatic feed control for liquids to mechanism using the same and including areserve reservoir for' liquid with a pipetherefrom to aV chamber from which said liq'uiduisused, said'reservoir and pipe being air tight and the lower end of said pipe being open, avalve fori liquidaboveV said chamber with a pipe therefrom extendedrintorsaidV chamber and terminating at a predetermined level for liquid therein, said reservoir and pipe being air tightfor slow feed by gravity from said reservoir to said chamber, avalve adapted to close said pipe, and means for automatically causing said valve toclose the endY liquid in said chamber visof the pipe while the 4. In combination with a crank case of anra Vchamber for liquid to be used,l a reservoir forreserve engine, means providing a chamber in communication therewith, a reservoir for reserve lubricant with a pipe therefrom extending into said chamber, said reservoir and pipe being air tight for slow feed, when the level of lubricant is below the end of said pipe, a valve for closing the end of said pipe, said valve beingV connected with means for closing the same duringl operation of said` engine, and means for retardingy the openingof said valve. when said engine stops.

5. In combination fwith the crank case of an; engine, means providing a chamber in communication therewith, a reservoir for lubricant withfa pipe therefrom extended into said chamber toay predetermined level for lubricant in said crank case, said reservoir and pipe being air tight yabove the lubricant, a valve mechanism adapted tolthe end 'of said pipe'within said chamber for `closing the same, vmeans operated when said engine'is'in'operation for automatically closing said valve, dash pot means for retarding the opening movement of said valve when said engine sto-ps, and means for accelerating the movementlof said valve 'following its. initial movement.

6. In combination with the crank casev of an engine, means. providing a chamber in comfmun'ication therewith, a reservoir for lubricant, a pipe therefrom and extended into said chamber for gravity fee/d, said reservoir and pipe being air .tight above the lubricant, a valve Yin said' chamber for closing said pipe, means operated by'said engine forclosing said valve when the engine isfoperatingnieans for retarding the openingmovement of said valve when said engine stops, and means for giving an accelerated movement to said valve following its initial movement to open ori'closed po'siiuions.Y

7.In combination with av crankv case/of an engine, means providing ay chamber in com; muni'cation therewith, ahreservoir for lubricant, a pipe therefrom, extended downinto said chamber to the lubricant therein, a valve mechanism adapted to the end of saidpipe .withinsaid chamber, means connected with said valve.' mechanism and adaptedftdl bel operated w; en the engine` is running to closey said valve, means connected therewith for; retarding the .Opening movement of said/valve the engine stops, and means 

